Top Ten Things to Do in Pittsburgh in August

The month's best bets in The 'Burgh.

by Eric Lidji

July 27, 2016

photo by shutterstock

Aug. 2/ Josh Groban was a freshman studying drama at Carnegie Mellon University when a recording contract offer led him to a career in music. Then, a remarkable break propelled him to stardom when he replaced Andrea Bocelli in a rehearsal at the 1999 Grammy awards, which led to host Rosie O’Donnell inviting him to perform on her talk show. By the time Groban released his first album in 2001, he was famous. A combination of operatic talent and “aw shucks” humility has made Groban one of the best-selling acts of the past 20 years, as the crowds at First Niagara Pavilion likely will attest. (665 Route 18, Burgettstown; 724/947-7400, joshgroban.com)

photo by shutterstock

Aug. 21/ Since completing their star turns as Karen Walker on “Will & Grace” and Ron Swanson on “Parks and Recreation,” wife and husband Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman unexpectedly became America’s Favorite Couple. They are more modest than Jay Z and Beyoncé, more approachable than Kanye West and Kim Kardashian and more lighthearted than Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Usually, the public gets to see the two perform together only in cameos or late-night talk-show spots. But Mullally and Offerman have put together a raunchy stage show, “Summer of 69: No Apostrophe,” which makes a stop at the Benedum Center. (237 Seventh St., Downtown; 412/456-6666, trustarts.org)

Aug. 5-6/ The DreamOn Festival is all about flavors. The two-day showcase in Market Square includes 20 musical acts, 20 types of ice cream from Downtown shop Dream Cream and a diverse group of artists and vendors. (Market Square, Downtown; dreamonfest.com)

photo courtesy sen. john heinz history center

Aug. 13/ Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village is hosting a game of “base ball,” as the sport was known in its early days, with teams wearing vintage uniforms and playing by Civil War-era rules, i.e. no gloves. (401 Meadowcroft Road, Avella, Pa.; 724/587-3412, heinzhistorycenter.org)

Aug. 23-27/ The Hookstown Fair, an annual celebration of country living, marks its 70th anniversary with agricultural and livestock contests, craft exhibits, bingo, food and live music, including a concert by Phil Dirt and the Dozers. (1198 State Route 168, Hookstown; 724/573-4512, hookstownfair.com)

photo by shutterstock

Aug. 17/ The cover of Drake’s new album, “Views,” shows the plaintive rapper sitting atop the CN Tower in his hometown of Toronto. From that vaulted vantage point, he can see for miles — but hear nothing except for his thoughts. While the album was an instant financial success, and its first single “Hotline Bling” hijacked popular culture for weeks last summer, many critics have attacked the album for its indulgences — from its length to its narcissism. Judge for yourself when the artist brings his show with rapper Future to Consol Energy Center. (1001 Fifth Ave., Uptown; 800/745-3000, drakeofficial.com)

photo courtesy of matt mead

Aug. 13-14/ Now in its 19th year, the Pittsburgh Triathlon and Adventure Race takes over Point State Park for six events: a quick Sprint Triathlon, a longer Adventure Race, the full-tilt Olympic-distance Triathlon and relay versions of all three. (Point State Park, Downtown; pittsburghtriathlon.org)

photo by paul g. wiegman

through Oct. 2/ Phipps’ Summer Flower Show: This year, the theme of the summer exhibit is “PlayGardens” and includes a room of Rube Goldberg-inspired machines, a giant loom, a theremin and a community diary. (Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, 1 Schenley Drive, Oakland; 412/622-6914, phipps.conservatory.org)

photo by Nathan J. Shaulis

through Sept. 11/ Instead of merely being illuminated, the works on display at Turned On: Lighting Hooks Up with Sculpture at the Pittsburgh Glass Center use light as a part of their composition. Here, glass reflects, refracts and glows. (5472 Penn Ave., Friendship; 412/365-2145, www.pittsburghglasscenter.org)

Not just good stuff. Great stuff.

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